Aeroplane.



J. slEILBR.

AEROPLANE.

' 7 APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1908. I 927,605. Patented July 13,1909. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. SEILER.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 190B.

Patented July 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. SEILER.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5. 1908.

Patented July 13,1909. 3 SKEETB-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES JOHN SEILER, OF UNION HILL, NEW JERSEY.

AEROPLAN E I Application filed August 5, 1908. Serial No. 447,032.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, J onN SmLEu, a citizen --of the" United States of runeriea, and a resimy invention at present known to me is illustrated in the accompmiying three sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view and partial section of the apparatus on line 11 of, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a side elevation and partial section on line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is across section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

'lhrongh the drawings, like reference figures indicate like parts.

1 and 2 represent longitudinal bracing pieces extending lengthwise of the n'laehine, I being at the left hand and 2 at the right hand, looking at Fig. -3. lre'terably these braces are tubular in shape and are eoned slightly from the center toward each end.

3, 3, &e. represent radial braces or arms extending from the longitudinal brace l, and 4-, 4. are similar arms or braces extending from longitudinal brace 2.

5, 5, represent. cords, wires or light rods connecting the extremities and intermet'liate points of the radialarms lying in the same cross sectional plane.

ti, 6, represent cords, wires or light rods connecting the extremities and intermediate points of the different sets of radial arms 3 and t in planes parallel to the longitudinal braces l and 2. There are a series of vertieal central braces indicated at 7 in Fig. 3 and a series of tension members 10, 10, ex-

tend from the front and rear sets of radial arms and c to the front. and rear ex Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented July 13, 1909.

machine consists essentially of a series of such box kites supported by a skeleton frame. 0n the lower. portion of the strong skeleton frame thus formed, is-supported a small platform 9, and under the frame are wheels 11, 11, just forward of themid section of the frame and a single wheel 12 at the rear. The wheels 11, 11, are dropped a little lower below the frame than the wheel 12, so that when the machine is run along-a horizontal surface it will point upward slightly and tend to rise by the action of the aeroplanes.

On th'eplatform 9 I have indicated any convei'iient form of motor 13 which may be geared to the propellers 14: and 15 in any convenient manner to produce rotation of the same in opposite-directions as by the belt 1t extending to the propeller 1 1 and the cross belt 17 extending to the pro Her 15. 'lhese propellers are journaled on t elongitndinal braces 1 and 2 and are located between two closely adjacent sets of radial arms 43 and 44 (see Fig. l). The longitudinally extending cords 5, 5, and 6, 6, which would otherwise interfere with the rotation of these propeller wheels are discontinued between these two sets of radial arms 43- and -1-l so as to form a compartment. or well in which the propeller wheels may freely revolve.

18 represents a vertical hinged rudder at the rear of the machine which is cut away at 18 to clear the cross brace 34L connecting the rear ends of the longitudinalbraces 1"- and 2. This rudder is controlled by the tiller rope 20 extending around the aidepulleys 21, 21, to the foot tiller 22 which is pivoted at 23 in a convenient position to receive the foot of the operator in a manner similar to that employed in racing shells.

it) is a rudder pivoted upon a horizontal hinge on the cross brace 35 at the front end of the machine and connected by the tiller rope24 passing around guide pulleys 25," 25, to tiller 26, which has a horizontally extendingpivot 27. Q

at), 29, represent pairs of balancing fins which are freely pivoted along their-u per edges to the upper edges of pairs of'inclmed' planes 2%, :28 formed by certain of the cloths 8, b, in the particular construction illustrated in the d rawing, which are' of approximately the same size and inclined inwardly atequal ingles to the central plane of the machine.

30 is a link connecting two hinged fins so that they will swing always parallel one to the other.

32, 32, indicate a pair of conveniently arranged tillers pivoted on the longitudinal braces l and 2 respectively and connected by links 31, 31, with the swinging fins 29, 29, so that the position thereof may be positively controlled by the operator if desired.

3:5,33, represent a series of air pockets preferably in the form of conical sections which open toward the rear of the machine while the apex of the cone is toward the front. These pockets are arranged on the under side of certain of the supporting planes, as indicated in the drawings.

Such being the construction of my apparatus, the mode of operation is as follows: The motor being set in operation and the operator taking his positionfupon the platform 9, the machine will be driven forward upon the wheels 11 and 12, pointing slightly upward and will soon be lifted by the aeroplanes clear of theground. Byraising or lowering the tiller 26, the operator controls the forward rudder l9 and causes the machine to point upward'or downward. By inserting his foot in the foot tiller 22 and swinging the same to the right or left, he manipulates the rear rudder l8 and causes the machine to point to theright or left. Any transverse currents of air striking the machine on either side will tend to swing the balancing fins 29, 29, toward and from the adjacent inclined planes 28,28, and thereby out in the position shown in dotted lines modify the effective area of the supporting planes so as to automatically counteract any tipping action which might otherwise result. That is to say, if a cross current strikes the left hand side of the machine, looking at Fig. 3, it will tend to swing the fin on that side up against the adjacent plane 28, as indicated in dotted iines and thereby reduce the effective area of said left hand fin to zero, while the right hand fin will be forced and brought into effective position where it will be acted on by the'current of air passing from the left to right so as to lift the right hand side of the machine and thereby overcome any tipping action. If the action is not entirely automatic, or if the o erator desires to vary the supporting actlon of the planes to correspond to any shifting of the center of gravity of the machine, the fins can be positively controlled by the operator seizing either one of the tillers-n32, 32. As indicated, the engine being to the rear of the medial cross section of the apparatus, there will bea tendency of the machine to tip backward slightly and run backward on the supporting planes in case the propeller wheels are stopped. The too rapid running backward of the machine incase of stoppage from accident to the machinery is prevented by the air pockets 33, 33, which present a considerable resistance to" such backward running of the machine, but would present little resistance to the forward motion of the machine when the engine is working.

These pockets would therefore have a parachute-like action in breaking the descent of the machine in case the engine was shut down. The inclination of the machine while running backward would of course be also controlled bythe forward rudder 19.

The advantages of my invention comprise its stability against tipping to forward or rear resulting from its, great length and large expanse of aeroplane along the line of its length, and the great supporting power compared with weight due to the light but' strongly braced skeleton frame carrying a. large number of individual box kites, as described; the great rigidity with light weight and small air resistanceg'iven by the construction embodying the'longitudinal braces, radial arms, longitudinal and cross cords, and inclined tension. cords at front and rear; the arrangement of the propellers medially of the frame in line witha series of box kites, before and behind, which form guid ing passages for the air-and give greatsteadiness to the aeroplane and added propulsive effect to the propeller wheels, the air being forced to travel in a straight line parallel to the axis of the propeller wheels,

and the blades of said wheels being thereby enabled to act upon the air with the greatest possible'efi'iciency; and finally the con vertible automatic or controllable action of the hinged fins by which all conditions tending to produce side tipping of the apparatus may be met.

Of course numerous changes in the details, of construction could be made without departing from the principle of my invention.

Other arrangements of driving gearing could be substituted for that shown. The number of balancing fins and air pockets could be varied, The arrangement of steering gear could be changed, and other similar modifications made to suit special conditionswithout varyingthe essential principles of points in corresponding arms and a series of planes extending from one to another of said cords to form a series of boxes open at front and rear.

3. In an aeroplane the combination with an open framework whose greatest dimension is in the line of flight, of a plurality of box kites set in said framework parallel to its greatest dimension. i

4. In an aero lane the combination with two longitudina ly extendin bracing members, of a plurality of setso arms radiating therefrom, cords connecting the outer extremities of said arms, a series of planes supported on said cords, a propeller wheel journaled on each bracmgmember, said wheels being of opposite p1tch and located between two closed adjacent sets of arms, and means for causing said propeller'wheels to rotate simultaneously in opposite directions. i

5. In an aero lane the mbination with. two longitudina ly extendin bracing mem-' bers, of a plurality. of sets '0 arms radiating therefrom, cords connecting the outer extremities of said arms, a series of planes supported on said cords and a series of ten- .sion members extending from the extremities of the arms of the front and rear sets tothe "front .and rear extremities of the bracing members. v

6. In an aeroplane the combination with an open framework which is longer than it is wlde or high, of a ser es of'planes supported thereon and a plurality of pockets formed on the under side of some-of said planes, said-- pockets opening rearward, the

and inwardly, of a center of gravity of said aeroplane being to the rear of its mid section.

7. In an aeroplane the combination with the frame and su porting planes including a pair of o posite y disposed planes one on each side 0 the frame inclined downwardly air of loose balancing fins of ap roximate y the same size as the inclined p anes hinged one 'to the upper edge and hanging down- -of the frame, each ward, and means holding said balancing fins parallel to one another as they swing.

8. In an aeroplane the combination with the frame and en porting planes including a pair of o positdly disposed, lanes one on each side 0 the frame inclined downwardly and inwardly, of a air of loose balancing fins of ap roximate y the same size as the inclined p anes hinged one to the upper edge of each inclined plane, and hangmg downward, and means holding said balancing fins parallel to one another as they swing, together with mechanism forpositively swinging said the combination 'with 9.. In an aeroplane the frame and supporting planes of pairs of balancing fins hinged to opposite sides of the frame, and means for causing one fin of each pair to extend away from a supporting lane Whenever the other fin of that pair 1s forced toward a supporting plane, whereporting surface is increased on by the su the frame and not on the other.

one side 0 10. In-an aeroplane the combination with a frame and a series of sup orting planes arranged to form a series 0 passageways. for the air. longitudinally of the frame, of one or. more propeller wheels located medially lution within the cross section of'the frame, and I means for revolving said propeller wheels. I

11. In an aeroplane the combination with the frame and supporting planes including a pair of o positely disposed planes one on each side 0 the frame inclined downwardly and inwardly, of a pair of loose balancing fins hinged one to the upper edge of each inclined plane, and hanging downward, and means holding said balancing fins parallel to one another as they swing.

Signed at New. York, N. Y. tlns 1st day of August, 1908.

. JOHN SEILER.

Witnesses:

WALTER H. PUMPHREY, M: G. CRAwFonn.

having its circle of revo- 

